Indefinite and Definite

Articles
LESSON 28
Indefinite and
Definite  The words a, an, and the are special adjectives
Articles called articles.
 

an—used before singular count nouns beginning with a vowel (a,

e, i, o, u) or vowel sound:

Indefinite an apple, an elephant, an issue, an orange

Articles—a, an  a—used before singular count nouns beginning with consonants
(other than a, e, i, o, u):

a stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a book

Definite  Can be used before singular and plural, count and non-count
nouns
Article—the
  Used before singular nouns that are unspecified:

a pencil
 an orange
 Used before number collectives and some numbers:

1. Indefinite a dozen
 a gallon
Article (a, an)  Used before a singular noun followed by a restrictive modifier:

a girl who was wearing a yellow hat

 Used with nouns to form adverbial phrases of quantity,
amount, or degree:

I felt a bit depressed.

  Used to indicate a noun that is definite or has been previously specified
in the context:

Please close the door.

 I like the clothes you gave me.
 Used to indicate a noun that is unique:

Praise the Lord!

2. Definite  The Columbia River is near here.
 Used to designate a natural phenomenon:
Article (the)
The nights get shorter in the summer.
 The wind is blowing so hard.
 Used to refer to a time period:

I was very naïve in the past.

 This song was very popular in the 1980s.
 Used to indicate all the members of a family:

I invited the Bakers for dinner.

 This medicine was invented by the Smiths.
  Choose the correct article in each sentence.

1)Did you bring                      (a, an, the) umbrella?

2)Are you looking for                      (a, an, the) shampoo?
3)I checked                      (a, an, the) mailbox again.
4)Can I have                      (a, an, the) spoon please?
QUIZ TIME! 5)I was born into                      (a, an, the) poor family.
6)She will come back in                      (a, an, the) hour.
 7)Have you been to                      (a, an, the) Space Needle Tower in
Seattle?
8)I would love to talk to one of                      (a, an, the) managers.
9)What                      (a, an, the) amazing view!
10)The helicopter landed on                      (a, an, the) roof of a
building.
  Choose the correct article in each sentence.

1)Did you bring        AN              (a, an, the) umbrella?

2)Are you looking for        THE              (a, an, the) shampoo?
3)I checked       THE               (a, an, the) mailbox again.
4)Can I have               A       (a, an, the) spoon please?
ANSWERS!  5)I was born into        A              (a, an, the) poor family.
6)She will come back in         AN             (a, an, the) hour.
7)Have you been to     THE                 (a, an, the) Space Needle Tower
in Seattle?
8)I would love to talk to one of     THE                 (a, an, the)
managers.
9)What     AN                 (a, an, the) amazing view!
10)The helicopter landed on      THE                (a, an, the) roof of a
building.
 THANK YOU! 